Patrick Vieira broke the deadlock for the hosts after just five minutes, but Marco Materazzi put through his own net in the 26th minute to bring the Sicilians back into the match.

Luis Jimenez then scored what proved to be the decider nine minutes later to keep Inter ahead of nearest challengers Roma, who were 2-1 winners over AC Milan on Saturday night.

In that match, Kaka opened the scoring in the 56th minute for Milan, but substitutes Ludovic Giuly and Mirko Vucinic netted in a frantic three-minute spell to earn the Giallorossi their third consecutive league win.

Juventus consolidated third place on Sunday after substitute Vicenzo Iaquinta's 88th-minute strike secured them a 1-0 win over Napoli.

And Fiorentina opened up a four-point lead over Milan in the battle for the fourth Champions League berth following a 3-1 victory against mid-table Genoa.

Mario Alberto Santana and Adrian Mutu gave the hosts a two-goal cushion before the break, and Giampaolo Pazzini fired in the Viola's third before young substitute Matias Masiero scored on his debut for the Grifone.

Sampdoria kept their UEFA Cup hopes on track with a 3-1 success over struggling Catania.

Angelo Palombo's opener for Samp was cancelled out by Lorenzo Stovini in the 74th minute, but Pietro Accardi and Claudio Bellucci both found the target to earn three points for the hosts.

At the other end of the table, basement boys Cagliari gave their survival hopes a boost with a 3-0 win over Torino.

Jeda got the ball rolling for the hosts before two goals from Robert Acquafresca - the first from the penalty spot - secured only their sixth success of the campaign.

Cagliari are now four points behind Empoli and Reggina, who had differing fortunes on Sunday.

Reggina bounced back from last week's defeat to Inter with a 4-0 hammering of Siena - Franco Brienza (two), Francesco Cozza and Simone Missiroli providing the goals - while Empoli were on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline against Atalanta.

Antonio Langella, Cristiano Doni and a Simone Padoin double earned Atalanta the spoils with Ighli Vannucchi replying for Empoli, who slip below Reggina.

Also on Sunday, new Parma coach Hector Cuper began his reign with a 1-1 draw at Livorno.

Reginaldo secured a point for the visitors after Jose Luis Vidigal had put Livorno ahead before the interval.

On Saturday, a late Antonio Di Natale strike ensured Udinese a 2-2 draw at home to fellow European hopefuls Lazio.

Lazio went ahead through Tommaso Rocchi's strike but Damiano Ferronetti equalised for the hosts early in the second period.

Cristian Ledesma fired the visitors in front again but Di Natale popped up with the leveller late one.